I figured since I am getting far enough along, I should pulish this timeline. I in no way am saying this is a typical timeline for any other people applying to the Peace Corps
August 31st, 2010 – Started Application. Thought to myself hmmm… there are a lot of pages to this application. 2 essays? 10 year work experience? 10 year volunteering experience? Time to dig in my brain for these past dates of employment
October 18th, 2010 – First recommendation submitted online!
October 19th, 2010 – Finished my application and Health Review Status
October 24th, 2010 – Second recommendation submitted online!
November 1st – Contacted by my recruited with additional paperwork. Several addenda to fill out, and fingerprinting forms were mailed
November 5th, 2010 – Final recommendation submitted online, after much harassing.
November 8th, 2010– Received legal paperwork in the mail. DAMN YOU COLUMBIA MAIL SERVICE, taking so long for my deliveries
November 10th, 2011 – Fingerprinted at the Peace Corps office. Apparently my fingerprints are really weird….
November 16th, 2010– Contacted by recruiter about an interview
December 1st, 2010– I had my interview! It went for over 2 hours, when I had initially been told it would go 60-90 minutes! I was really nervous, but it went really well! My recruiter is awesome!
December 2nd, 2010– Filled out two more forms that I needed to turn in before my nomination. So many forms!
December 9th, 2010– Nomination!!! I was nominated for Environmental and Water Resources Engineering in Central or South America! SO EXCITED!!!!
December 15th, 2010– Got a notice that Medical and Dental Forms were mailed. Come on mail services, don’t fail me now! I’m going to have to schedule my boatload of appointments soon (physical, gynecologist, dental, and eye). Plus, I already know my contacts are the wrong prescription, and my glasses are even worse! Haven’t seen a dentist in a few years either… whoops!
December 20th, 2010– received medical and dental packet. Holy Cow! So much paperwork is required. Scheduling my appointments in the next few days…
December 23rd, 2010– First doctors appointment. Got most of my physical done and more blood drawn than I thought possible for tests! Still have to go back for a few more appointments – mainly for my TB skin test and getting everything signed off my an MD.
December 28th, 2010– TB skin test performed and I got my Hep A vaccine #2. Still have to come back to get test result read.
December 30th, 2010– TB skin test came back negative. Hooray! Got all my test results printed up and everything signed off on. Medical Section is done! Sadly, I don’t have time to get dental finished before Chile, so I will be getting that done when I return. Fingers crossed for no cavities! Also got my eyes tested again and my eyeglasses fitted. So 2 of 3 are completed. Everything is looking good so far!
January 26th, 2011– Went to the dentist today – no cavities or other problems! Got the x-rays needed, made copies of everything, and mailed in the medical clearance forms!! Now it’s just a waiting game for clearance and then contact by a placement officer! Apparently it takes between 4 and 6 weeks on average, so that would be late February to early March to medical clearance.
February 4th, 2011- Got notified that the Peace Corps received my papers. Whew... I was a little nervous! It had been over a week since I sent it - was having nightmares that it was lost in the mail!
February 7th, 2011- Dental Clearance! WOOHOO
March 31st, 2011 - Legal Clearance
April 19th, 2011 - Contact from Medical. I receive an email and then a call from my nurse with a few questions. Turns out I am missing one of my Hep B tests and I manage to get in the same day to get my blood drawn for the test. Should have results back in 2 days. Nurse said I should be cleared after I get those results in (with restrictions for my allergies)
April 21st, 2011 - Email in scanned results of Hep B surface antibody. Even though I got the whole set of Hep B shots when I was 4-5, the immunity didn't take. Means I'll probably have to get them all again for the Peace Corps :(
April 22nd, 2011 - Medical Clearance!
May 3rd, 2011 - Contact from Placement Assistant requesting updated resume and information about my spanish class and transcript. File sent on to Placement Specialist
May 27th, 2011 - Placement Interview with Placement Specialist. Find out the Environmental and Water Resources Engineering program is full for August/September. Given three options: Math/Science Teaching in September, Health in October, or wait for Water in January-March
June 3rd, 2011 - Contact by Placement Specialist, tell him I want to wait until January-March 2012 for Water positions. Advised to get construction experience to open more positions and to make myself more competitive for 2012 departures.
June 29th, 2011 - After returning from Europe, visit a workplace and get a job at a Geotech firm overseeing and monitoring active drill sites. Peace Corps says it counts as construction, hooray! Also learn I have a new Placement Specialist - HI NEW PLACEMENT SPECIALIST! He seems nice :)
July 13th, 2011 - Email in new resume with my new job experience. Ask Placement Specialist for any updates
July 14th, 2011 - Receive email that there are no updates.
July 15th, 2011 - Phone call from Placement Specialist! He tells me he is looking and is going to send me an invitation to a program leaving later February, 2012! I jump up and down and squeal really obnoxiously!
July 20th, 2011 - Invitation arrived! HONDURAS, February 22nd, 2012
December 16th, 2011 - Received a phone call from Peace Corps. Due to a security incident in Honduras, my training class was canceled. I will be given preferential placement and should hear something on December 19th or 20th.
December 20th, 2011 - Phone call from placement office. Asked questions about my flexibility of serving in different project assignment and region. I told them I am picky about staying in Water but flexible about regions
December 23rd, 2011 - Phone call that a last minute spot opened in the Dominican Republic, leaving February 28th in water and sanitation. Gave a verbal acceptance and new invitation was mailed.
December 29th, 2011 - New invitation arrived! Dominican Republic as an Appropriate Technology Developer. Accept invitation and begin second round of paperwork :)
